New Battery for RX450h

[Stuart Pearson]

Any recommendations

[Herbie]

1 hour ago, Stuart Pearson said:

Any recommendations

 

[Vadim]

The original Battery is of the D23 form-factor. This shape is used in many Japanese cars, including Lexus, Toyota, Subaru and Mitsubishi.

I have recently fitted Yuasa YBX3005. The only issue is that the original ventilation pipe does not fit into the Battery (the Battery has smaller ventilation hole, than the original Panasonic battery). Otherwise all good.

 

[Barry14UK]

2 hours ago, Vadim said:

The original battery is of the D23 form-factor. This shape is used in many Japanese cars, including Lexus, Toyota, Subaru and Mitsubishi.

I have recently fitted Yuasa YBX3005. The only issue is that the original ventilation pipe does not fit into the battery (the battery has smaller ventilation hole, than the original Panasonic battery). Otherwise all good.

 

This works to a degree but is not the AGM VRLA type deep discharge Battery Lexus fit in the rear of the RX450h, mainly for safety reasons.

[Walus]

9 hours ago, Vadim said:

The original battery is of the D23 form-factor. This shape is used in many Japanese cars, including Lexus, Toyota, Subaru and Mitsubishi.

I have recently fitted Yuasa YBX3005. The only issue is that the original ventilation pipe does not fit into the battery (the battery has smaller ventilation hole, than the original Panasonic battery). Otherwise all good.

 

It only takes a call to Yuasa and they will send you the elbow adapter. I also noticed they have those in Halfords. They might be attached to actual batteries though ;).

[Walus]

I can confirm that my YBX5005 is doing a fine job. More than adequate to what is required of an auxiliary Battery. The 65 Ah vs 51Ah (original) also helps. 

[Prince Bob]

18 hours ago, Stuart Pearson said:

Any recommendations

Main dealer, at least you will have the correct Battery and it will be fitted correctly. Paid £228 all in, not cheap I know but I believe you get what you pay for. The original lasted 10 years so worth the money.

You could always order direct from Lexus online as well https://lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/parts/lexus-rx/lexus-rx-phase-iii-2009-2015/lexus-rx-3-engine-service-kits/lexus-rx-phase-3-12v-starter-battery/

 

[Walus]

6 hours ago, Barry14UK said:

This works to a degree but is not the AGM VRLA type deep discharge battery Lexus fit in the rear of the RX450h, mainly for safety reasons.

Not sure about this safety aspect. AGM is still not gel. It is going to leak just as the wet Battery would in an event of a crash.

[Barry14UK]

AGM Battery manufacturers say batteries will operate even if up side down and that the acid is absorbed by the glass mat so will not spew out everywhere in the event of casing fracturing in an accident.  Yuasa say elsewhere as do others in the industry that where an AGM Battery was originally fitted it should be replaced with the same. This provides general information on batteries and differences and alludes to the Prius (which works in the same way as for the AGM Battery fitted in the RX models with Battery below rear hatch).  https://www.yuasa.co.uk/info/technical/agm-efb-explained/

NB.  Even the 9000 AGM range Yuasa battery is not quite the same type as the RX the latter of which is more comparable with the HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) range provided by some manufacturers such as I have detailed under other threads. 

[Vadim]

3 hours ago, Walus said:

It only takes a call to Yuasa and they will send you the elbow adapter. I also noticed they have those in Halfords. They might be attached to actual batteries though ;).

Thanks, will try reaching them.

[Vadim]

1 hour ago, Barry14UK said:

AGM battery manufacturers say batteries will operate even if up side down and that the acid is absorbed by the glass mat so will not spew out everywhere in the event of casing fracturing in an accident.  Yuasa say elsewhere as do others in the industry that where an AGM battery was originally fitted it should be replaced with the same. This provides general information on batteries and differences and alludes to the Prius (which works in the same way as for the AGM battery fitted in the RX models with battery below rear hatch).  https://www.yuasa.co.uk/info/technical/agm-efb-explained/

NB.  Even the 9000 AGM range Yuasa battery is not quite the same type as the RX the latter of which is more comparable with the HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) range provided by some manufacturers such as I have detailed under other threads. 

It is just a 12V Pb Battery of D23 shape. Nothing more, no magic in the original Panasonic Battery either. The Battery is fixed as usual, not upside down. A 12v Battery for hybrid is not much different from any other, except that it does not experience peak currencies, because it does not need to turn the engine starter (that is done by the large hybrid Battery, which is also the primary reason of 12V Battery longevity in Lexus hybrids).

Some people consider Lexus as a kind of starship with a lot of super-high-tech secrets. In fact, when you go to a dealer, they poor the same Castrol oil in it, and fit usual (but quality) components. If you understand the difference, it may make no sense to pay triple amounts for that.

[Vadim]

10 hours ago, Barry14UK said:

This works to a degree but is not the AGM VRLA type deep discharge battery Lexus fit in the rear of the RX450h, mainly for safety reasons.

When a Battery deep-discharge, all car electronics shut down. What safety reasons do you mean? No Battery blows up when deep-discharged.

[Vadim]

Original Battery from RX450h 2011

[Barry14UK]

That looks almost the same inscription as on  top of my 2015 RX450 Battery with S55D23 stamped on the case but with info on CCA and 51 Ah in different position.  It doesn't say AGM although it is.

 

[Barry14UK]

4 hours ago, Vadim said:

When a battery deep-discharge, all car electronics shut down. What safety reasons do you mean? No battery blows up when deep-discharged.

Safety aspect is when car is overturned and Battery case is broken in crash acid is contained within the glass mat and does not spill on occupants - long odds but has happened.  The point is made here:- https://www.torquenews.com/8113/best-12v-battery-option-toyota-prius.

Also see what Professor John Kelly, an instructor, says says here in the early part of this video, (which I have previously posted for those who have already seen it). |He used Prius as an example but RX with Battery under hatch works in same way and note AGM batteries take greater discharge than standard lead acid :-

 

[Vadim]

The acid in car batteries is mixed with water, so that the concentration is far from 100%. It can irritate skin after a few minutes and make holes on clothes, if left unnoticed for >10min.

Overall, I think if you start to worry about potential acid spills from car battery when the car is overturned, then it may be better to avoid driving at all. There is highly flammable petrol, high-voltage hybrid Battery just on top of the petrol tank, glass which can break in a crash, cars moving at speed in opposite direction and a lot of other sources of risk.

Having said that, point taken. Sometimes you may wish to pay a bit more for a tiny bit of added safety.

[Barry14UK]

Yes, I don't hand hold a phone while driving and pay a bit extra for Premium tyres too as well as keeping to Lexus spec - definitely makes me too safety conscious to be driving!    Only wish the guy who rear ended me last November had been more safety conscious.  Fortunately, I was moving at the time.  Had I been stationary, damage to the rear would have been much worse with the Battery quite possibly broken free and propelled forward.  Although Battery acid is diluted with water in a flooded level Battery, it would be nasty if splashed in eyes or you were trapped and soaked in it.

Regardless of the foregoing, there are other advantages the AGM Battery has over a flooded acid one as confirmed by Battery manufacturers and stated by Professor John Kelly in the video I linked to.

As I have said before on this forum, it doesn't concern me what people fit to their cars but this forum is read by members and non members on the net, so people giving advice to deviate from spec should be prepared to stand by changes if followed by others who experience problems.  

[Vadim]

Any DIY information provided on this forum assumes that the users of such information have reasonably sufficient knowledge and experience in mechanical and electric works, and are able to evaluate related risks, including the risks of using aftermarket parts.

If that does not hold, any works not covered by the user manual should only be done by a specialist mechanic.